The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake: A Picture Book That Teaches Algorithms, Sequencing, and Clear Instructions

 Teaching students how to write good instructions — whether for coding, robotics, or AI — is surprisingly hard. The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake by Devin Elle Kurtz makes that concept come alive in the most delightful way.

This story introduces readers to Ember, a dragon who loves gold just like other dragons — except his “gold” is actually bread. Ember doesn’t just love eating it… he loves baking it, and he’s very good at it. Under the watchful eye of Beatrice the baker, Ember becomes a trusted apprentice, even being left alone in the bakery while she delivers orders.

That’s when everything goes hilariously wrong.

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Brief Summary

While Beatrice is away, a very important letter arrives from Princess Turnip, who wants to order a birthday cake. Ember has never heard of such a thing before. The princess tries to describe what she wants — yellow, round, with flowers on top — and Ember does exactly what he understands… delivering a loaf of bread that fits those instructions perfectly.

The princess tries again. And again. And again.

Each time, Ember follows her directions as literally as possible — and each time, the result is completely wrong. Eventually, Princess Turnip takes Ember to the library to find a recipe. With clear, step-by-step instructions, Ember finally bakes the perfect cake.

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The Good

This book is an absolute goldmine for teaching algorithms, sequencing, and precision.

From a classroom and media lab perspective, it naturally supports:

• Writing and following step-by-step instructions

• Understanding how computers (and AI) interpret prompts

• Debugging when something goes wrong

• The importance of clarity in communication

Students instantly see that Ember isn’t “wrong” — he’s just following the instructions exactly as they were given. That’s the heart of computational thinking.

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The Not-So-Good (From a School Librarian Lens)

There really isn’t much to flag here. The humor depends on misunderstanding, so very literal thinkers may initially get confused — but that confusion is actually what makes the learning powerful.

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Coding, AI & STEM Connections

As a media and technology teacher, this book opens the door to so many meaningful lessons:

Algorithms & Sequencing
Have students write a recipe for:

• Making a sandwich

• Drawing a monster

• Building a LEGO tower

Then follow the instructions exactly — no guessing allowed. Students will quickly see how missing steps cause problems.

AI Prompt Writing
Connect Ember’s mistakes to how AI image generators work:

• If you say “a yellow, round thing with flowers,” the AI might give you something very different than what you imagined

• The more specific the prompt, the better the result

Students can practice writing prompts for:

• A cake

• A dragon

• A bakery

Then compare what they asked for vs. what they got.

Debugging
Ask:

• What went wrong with Ember’s first cake?

• How did the recipe fix the problem?

• What would you change to make the instructions better?

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Overall

The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake is one of those rare picture books that is just as valuable for STEM and coding instruction as it is for reading enjoyment. It’s funny, clever, and deeply aligned with the way students learn computational thinking.

For librarians, media specialists, and teachers looking to teach algorithms, sequencing, and AI prompts in a kid-friendly way, this book is a must-have.

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Recommended Grade Levels

K–4
(Works beautifully for STEM, coding, and library lessons.)

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Why Your Students Will Love It

Students love Ember — his confidence, his mistakes, and his determination to get it right. The repeated attempts and silly misunderstandings make this a laugh-out-loud read that sneaks in powerful learning.

“If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone: A Picture Book for Sequencing & SEL”

 

Fans of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie will feel right at home with If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone. Both books use a playful chain-reaction structure where one small action leads to another, creating humor, curiosity, and endless opportunities for students to predict what will happen next.

The story begins when a child pretends to use a banana as a phone and calls a gorilla. From there, one silly call leads to another, and readers are swept into a series of funny, unexpected events that grow more ridiculous and delightful with every page. What starts as simple pretend play quickly becomes a joyful exploration of imagination and connection.

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The Good

This book is a wonderful choice for early literacy, sequencing, and SEL. The repetitive structure, predictable pattern, and escalating silliness make it ideal for interactive read-alouds.

From a classroom and library perspective, this book supports:

• Oral language and storytelling

• Imaginative play

• Sequencing and cause-and-effect

• Social connection and friendship

There is also a sweet SEL layer underneath the humor — the idea of reaching out, starting a conversation, and making a new friend, even in a silly way.

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Compare & Contrast Connection

Just like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, this story follows a chain-reaction pattern. One event causes the next, which makes it perfect for teaching:

• Cause and effect

• Story structure

• Predicting outcomes

Teachers can read both books and ask:

• What happens first?

• What happens next?

• How does each small action change the story?

Students quickly begin to recognize patterns while still enjoying the humor.

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Classroom & Library Activities

Banana Phone SEL Activity
Give students a pretend banana phone (or a paper cut-out) and let them practice:

• Saying hello

• Asking a question

• Starting a friendly conversation

This supports communication skills and confidence in a playful, low-pressure way.

Class Book
Create a shared book titled:
“If I Made a Call on a Banana Phone…”
Each student draws and writes who they would call and what would happen next.

Compare the Books
Use a Venn diagram or chart to compare If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone. Students can track how one event leads to another in both stories.

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The Not-So-Good (From a School Librarian Lens)

Because the story is so playful and convincing, some younger students might momentarily wonder whether a banana could really work as a phone. This creates a wonderful opportunity to talk about fiction vs. nonfiction and how stories sometimes imagine things that aren’t real.

Taking a moment to clarify what’s pretend and what’s real helps strengthen early media literacy and story understanding.

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Overall

If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone is a joyful, imaginative picture book that blends humor with learning. It invites students to laugh, predict, connect, and see how stories — and friendships — can grow from one small idea.

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Recommended Grade Levels

PreK–2
(Also works well for K–3 as an interactive read-aloud.)

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Why Your Students Will Love It

Kids love the silliness of using a banana as a phone and the surprise of who answers on the other end. The playful tone, funny twists, and chance to act out the story make this a book students will want to hear again and again.

Oh Dear!: A Playful, Interactive Read-Aloud for Sequencing, Rhyme, and Story Comparison

 Some books are especially powerful because they slow students down and invite them to think about what comes next. Oh Dear!, Look What I Got from the creators of the beloved We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, is one of those deceptively simple books that works beautifully as a teaching tool — particularly for sequencing, rhyme, and prediction.

At first glance, this is a lighthearted, interactive story perfect for young readers. But when used intentionally, it becomes an excellent way to help students practice following events in order, noticing rhyming patterns, and anticipating what might happen next.

In the story, readers move through a series of familiar settings, each one building on the last. With every page turn, students are encouraged to pause, listen closely, and join in — making the reading experience active rather than passive.

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The Good

This book shines as a sequencing and rhyme-based read-aloud. Its predictable structure makes it easy for students to recognize patterns and understand that stories follow a clear order.

Teachers and librarians can naturally pause to ask:

• What just happened?

• What do you think comes next?

• What words sound the same?

These moments support both phonological awareness and early narrative skills.

In addition, Oh Dear! supports:

• Rhyming and sound recognition

• Oral language development

• Listening comprehension

• Prediction and recall

• Understanding beginning, middle, and end

Students who already love We’re Going on a Bear Hunt will feel immediately comfortable with the familiar style and rhythm.

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The Not-So-Good (From a School Librarian Lens)

This book is intentionally simple and doesn’t offer a deep or complex plot. It’s not meant for extended written responses or long discussions.

However, that simplicity is what makes it such an effective early literacy tool, especially for students who are just learning to recognize rhyme, repetition, and story structure.

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Classroom & Library Connections

Oh Dear! works especially well when paired with hands-on and interactive activities:

• Stop before page turns and ask, “What comes next?”

• Have students listen for and repeat rhyming words

• Retell the story using sequencing cards

• Act out the story using movement and sound effects

Because of its repetitive structure and strong rhythm, this book is also perfect for:

• Felt board stories

• Magnet board storytelling

• Interactive storytime centers

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Compare & Contrast: An Author Study Opportunity

This book is an excellent companion to We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, making it a strong choice for a compare-and-contrast lesson or author study.

Students can explore:

• How both stories use repetition and rhythm

• Similarities in structure and pacing

• Differences in setting, characters, and tone

• How illustrations support the text in each book

Because We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is also a staple in children’s music and movement, students may already know it as a chant or song. That familiarity helps them quickly recognize patterns and apply those same ideas when reading Oh Dear!.

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About the Author (Author Study Appeal)

Michael Rosen, the author of Oh Dear! and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, is one of the most influential children’s authors in the UK and served as the UK Children’s Laureate. He is especially known for writing books that are meant to be read aloud, chanted, and performed, not just read silently.

This performance-based approach is one reason his books work so well in classrooms, music lessons, and storytime settings — and why they lend themselves so easily to movement, song, and interactive storytelling.

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Extension Idea: Create Your Own “Oh Dear!” Story

Because the structure is so clear, this book makes a fantastic mentor text.

As a class, students can:

• Brainstorm new settings or animals

• Work together to create simple rhyming lines

• Illustrate each page

• Turn the final product into a class book, felt board story, or magnet story

This activity reinforces sequencing, rhyme, collaboration, and creative confidence.

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Overall

Oh Dear! is a simple but highly effective read-aloud that supports multiple early literacy skills at once. Beneath its playful surface, it offers rich opportunities to teach sequencing, rhyme, prediction, and story comparison.

For teachers and librarians looking for a joyful, interactive book that invites participation and creativity — and pairs well with a classic favorite — this is an excellent addition to the collection.

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Recommended Grade Levels

PreK–1
(Especially effective for whole-group read-alouds, storytime, and early literacy instruction.)

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Why Your Students Will Love It

Students love joining in, hearing the rhymes, predicting what comes next, and recognizing patterns they already know from We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Many will be eager to act it out, sing it, or create their own version — turning reading into a shared, joyful experience